• A rainbow at Expo 2020 Dubai on a cloudy, rainy day for much of the country from Abu Dhabi city to the Northern Emirates on Sunday, January 16. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A rainbow at Expo 2020 Dubai on a cloudy, rainy day for much of the country from Abu Dhabi city to the Northern Emirates on Sunday, January 16. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A worker shelters beneath an umbrella in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A worker shelters beneath an umbrella in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Downtown Dubai awoke to rain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Downtown Dubai awoke to rain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Showers in Jumeirah, Dubai, made a day at the beach unappetising. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Showers in Jumeirah, Dubai, made a day at the beach unappetising. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Cyclists brave the weather in Deira. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Cyclists brave the weather in Deira. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • A car park in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A car park in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Showers in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
    Showers in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
  • Police urged drivers to take care on the roads as rain fell across the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
    Police urged drivers to take care on the roads as rain fell across the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
  • Temperatures were expected to reach a maximum of 26°C in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Temperatures were expected to reach a maximum of 26°C in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Rain on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Rain on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Showers fell on various parts of Abu Dhabi before sunrise. Victor Besa / The National
    Showers fell on various parts of Abu Dhabi before sunrise. Victor Besa / The National
  • People make their way to work during the rain on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
    People make their way to work during the rain on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
  • Forecasters said it would rain throughout the day. Victor Besa / The National
    Forecasters said it would rain throughout the day. Victor Besa / The National
  • It has been an exceptionally wet start to 2022 for the UAE, with more than 18 months' worth of rain falling in only a few days earlier in the month. Victor Besa / The National
    It has been an exceptionally wet start to 2022 for the UAE, with more than 18 months' worth of rain falling in only a few days earlier in the month. Victor Besa / The National
  • Almost the entire Abu Dhabi emirate was blanketed in dense fog at the weekend. Victor Besa / The National
    Almost the entire Abu Dhabi emirate was blanketed in dense fog at the weekend. Victor Besa / The National
  • People make their way on a street in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    People make their way on a street in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A man crosses a road in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
    A man crosses a road in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
  • Many people were wearing warm clothes, as chilly temperatures accompanied the rains. Victor Besa / The National
    Many people were wearing warm clothes, as chilly temperatures accompanied the rains. Victor Besa / The National
  • A man rides an electric bike in the rain. Victor Besa / The National
    A man rides an electric bike in the rain. Victor Besa / The National
  • Women make their way amid the rains. Victor Besa / The National
    Women make their way amid the rains. Victor Besa / The National
  • An almost deserted beach in Abu Dhabi during the wet weather. Victor Besa / The National
    An almost deserted beach in Abu Dhabi during the wet weather. Victor Besa / The National

Middle East battered by severe rainstorms


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Rain is causing chaos across the Middle East, with flash flooding in Erbil and the cancellation of outdoor events in Saudi Arabia to protect public safety.

In the UAE, many areas were affected by rain on Sunday, some of it heavy.

Forecasters issued a weather warning covering much of Abu Dhabi, urging people to be aware of the possibility of hazardous weather in some areas on the coast and inland.

Forecasters warned that the rain could return later in the week, making it one of the wettest recent starts to a new year.

Other parts of the region have also experienced heavy downpours in recent days.

In Saudi Arabia, moderate to heavy rain led to the cancellation of many outdoor events in Riyadh on Friday. They included a sell-out K-pop Stray Kids and Chungha concert, which was being held as part of Riyadh Season.

Fans were asked to evacuate the outdoor arena as “quickly and quietly as possible”, according to reports.

The organisers of Riyadh Season issued tweets announcing the closure of all outdoor events and zones for public safety on the day.

The rain-affected several areas, including Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Qassim, and the Alkhobar region.

In Iraq, heavy rain caused flash floods in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern Kurdish autonomous region, on Thursday.

Major roads were submerged and water entered many people’s homes, damaging their property. Firefighters pumped water out of buildings.

More than 300 hotel rooms were set aside for the families who were affected. They would also be provided with goods, the local government said.

Erbil often suffers severe floods during the winter. Thursday’s bout of rainy weather was the third of the season so far.

In Gaza, heavy rain caused floods in Gaza city, turning streets into rivers as drains overflowed.

Climate change impact

Experts have said extreme weather events like flash floods are becoming more common in the region owing to climate change.

A report by Emirates Wildlife Society from 2017 titled UAE Climate Change Risks & Resilience, found the UAE was likely to experience more rainfall and the risk of flash floods due to global warming.

Annual rainfall could increase by 200 per cent, it said.

In the first few days of 2022 alone, the UAE has received 18 months of rain in some areas.

In January 2020, the UAE experienced a three-day rainstorm that caused widespread floods and chaos on roads, damaging homes and forcing schools to close.

The extreme weather was caused by climate change, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, who was then Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said.

Studies in the UAE have shown heavy rain spells have become longer-lasting over the past two decades.

The research by Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi and the National Centre of Meteorology in the UAE found the events “may be even more impactful in a warming world”.

Experts have said a warmer atmosphere could hold more water vapour, meaning extreme events last longer.

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

Updated: January 16, 2022, 12:48 PM